Smoke and Shadows by Victoria Paige Page A

No risk. She was accustomed to reading people, which was probably why she knew she could be comfortable with Brian.  
    “Pay’s good,” Marissa mumbled. “Now shut up and tell me what’s the newest scandal on the Hill?”
    She probably knew more than he did, so she tried not to glaze over as he told her about the infighting in Congress regarding the spending bill. After two hours of conversation, Brian noticed her head nodding and mentioned that he should probably leave. She didn’t stop him because after beer and pizza, she was definitely ready to turn in.
    A sharp rap on the door made them freeze. The rap was followed by more urgent pounding.
    “What the hell?” Brian muttered furiously, getting up to see who it was.
    Marissa leaped into action, all sleepiness vanishing. She thrust an arm out to stop him and whispered urgently, “No, Brian.”
    Damn it. She was going to blow her cover, but she had no choice because if that was an assassin out there, Brian was in mortal danger.
    Her neighbor stared at her incredulously. “This is DC, Marissa. Great city, but plenty of psychos. Let me handle this.”
    “Brian,” Marissa said impatiently when there was another banging on the door. “Stay in the kitchen, and if anything happens, don’t look back—just run out the back door and hide.”
    “What the fuck, Marissa?”
    Not bothering to explain further, Marissa quickly slithered along the wall, praying whoever was outside wouldn’t just spray her door with assault rifle rounds. But her instincts told her that this wasn’t an assassin. She had a pretty good idea who it was, but she still wasn’t taking any chances when Brian was with her.
    She pulled out her gun from the credenza, ignoring the curse from her neighbor, and leaned in to look through the peephole.
    Her blood pressure shot straight to her head.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Viktor’s slightly irritated face greeted Marissa when she opened the door. But a flash of fury quickly passed through his eyes when he spotted Brian behind her. Not waiting to be invited in, he stepped into her space, forcing her to move out of the way.  
    “You weren’t answering your phone,” Viktor leveled Brian with an intimidating stare. Brian visibly stepped back and then caught himself. She couldn’t blame him. Viktor filled up a room with his presence and it wasn’t the type of presence where you’d leave your guard down.
    Annoyed, Marissa said, “It’s the weekend, Mr. Baran. Can’t this project wait until Monday?”
    Ignoring her, Viktor turned to Brian. “You should leave.”
    Marissa’s jaw slackened in outrage, and her neighbor was speechless in the face of Viktor’s rudeness. How dare he start ordering her guests from her house? Brian actually sputtered and shot her an aggrieved look.  
    “Marissa? You work for this asshole?” Brian asked when he managed to speak.
    “With.” She corrected. Facing Viktor, she said through gritted teeth, “You’re the one leaving. You have no right demanding my time after working hours.”  
    Viktor’s brow shot up before he balanced back on his heels and crossed his arms.  
    She wanted to scream in frustration. She couldn’t do this in front of Brian and Viktor knew it.  
    She looked at her neighbor apologetically. “I have to handle this, Brian. It’s a high-profile project and I,” she glared at Viktor, “have no desire to be blamed for its failure.”
    “I don’t want to leave you—” Brian began.
    “Bri,” Marissa said sharply. “Go! I’ll be fine. I’m the one with a gun.”
    “Well, if you shoot him, I didn’t see or hear anything,” Brian retorted. Walking up to her, he brushed her lips with his, surprising her. Her eyes snapped to Viktor’s and she flinched because the promise of retribution in them sent her heart racing.
    When the door closed behind Brian, Viktor crossed the distance between them. A hand shot out to firmly, but gently grasp her nape, bringing her nose to nose with him.
    “I